By Vishwapati
Patna: In a significant development in a money laundering case tied to the Railway Claims Tribunal scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized two dozen properties worth over ₹8 crore today. The agency has also sought the conviction of the accused in court.
The case involves fraudulent compensation claims using fake certificates, leading to the embezzlement of ₹100 crore. Among those named by the ED for prosecution are lawyers Vidyanand Singh, Parmanand Sinha, Rinki Sinha, Archana Sinha, Vijay Kumar, Nirmala Kumar, and the firm M/s Harjig Business and Development Private Limited.
The ED initiated its investigation following irregularities in railway death claim cases involving unidentified individuals, as well as an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the criminal matter.
Key Findings of the Investigation
The probe revealed that fraudulent claims were filed concerning railway-related deaths, with only a small portion of the compensation reaching the genuine claimants. The majority was siphoned off by the conspirators. Advocate Vidyanand Singh and his legal team were found to have settled over 900 claims, all approved by Judge RK Mittal.
Supreme Court’s Directive to CBI
The CBI registered the case on the orders of the Supreme Court. A bench comprising Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Uday U. Lalit had directed investigative agencies to take appropriate action. The scam involved fake claims filed under the names of railway employees.
Details of the Scam
The fraud pertains to deceitfully obtaining compensation for injuries and deaths in railway accidents. The matter came to light following a complaint by the railways. The CBI’s Patna team filed a case under various sections, including criminal conspiracy and fraud, uncovering embezzlement of around ₹100 crore. The investigation implicated judicial officers, lawyers, and railway officials.
ED’s Further Discoveries
The ED found that Vidyanand Singh and his associates opened bank accounts in claimants’ names without their knowledge, using their signatures and thumb impressions to divert funds. Approximately ₹10.27 crore was transferred from claimants’ accounts to the lawyers’ accounts.
To conceal the illicit proceeds, the lawyers’ wives acquired 24 properties in Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, and New Delhi under a company name. Earlier this year, the ED conducted raids in Patna and Nalanda, leading to the arrest of Vidyanand Singh, Parmanand Sinha, and Vijay Kumar. All three remain in judicial custody.
(The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com)
